Tissue fasteners and related deployment systems and methods

Abstract

Surgical tissue fasteners and related deployment systems and methods are disclosed. A tissue fastener used to join multiple tissue layers includes a first member, a second member, and a connecting member connecting the first and second members. In some embodiments, the first and second members are configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state in which the fastener secures the tissue layers together. In other tissue fastener embodiments the connecting member has an elastic compressive spring force for applying a substantially constant force on the tissue layers for adjusting a length of the connecting member between the first and second members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A delivery system configured for deployment of an expandable tissue fastener, comprising:
 a tissue fastener having a proximal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, a distal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, and an elongate connecting member connecting the proximal member to the distal member; 
 a flexible tube having a lumen configured to accommodate the tissue fastener in a contracted state; 
 a pusher for guiding the tissue fastener along the lumen of the tube; and 
 a grasper coupled to a distal end of the pusher and configured to grasp the tissue fastener, the grasper having an open configuration and a grasping configuration, wherein the grasper is biased to the open configuration, and wherein when the grasper is in the open configuration, the tissue fastener is disconnected from any structure within the flexible tube; 
 wherein a sharp distal end of the distal member is configured to puncture a tissue wall when the tissue fastener protrudes from the flexible tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a device for folding two walls of tissue together. 
     
     
       3. The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the tube is positioned in a lumen of the device. 
     
     
       4. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a length sufficient enough to extend out of a body. 
     
     
       5. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the tube includes a sharp cutting edge formed at its distal end. 
     
     
       6. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured to accommodate multiple tissue fasteners. 
     
     
       7. The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation means for the grasper at a proximal end of the tube. 
     
     
       8. The delivery system of  claim 1 , further including a sheath covering the tube to puncture through tissue. 
     
     
       9. The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube includes a curved distal portion. 
     
     
       10. A delivery system configured for deployment of an expandable tissue fastener, comprising:
 a tissue fastener having a proximal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, a distal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, and an elongate connecting member connecting the proximal member to the distal member; 
 a flexible tube having a lumen configured to accommodate the tissue fastener in a contracted state; 
 a pusher for guiding the tissue fastener along the lumen of the tube; and 
 a coupling system coupled to a distal end of the pusher and configured to grasp the tissue fastener, the coupling system including a pair of arms biased to an open configuration, wherein when the arms of the coupling system are in the open configuration, the tissue fastener is disconnected from any structure within the flexible tube; 
 wherein a sharp distal end of the distal member is configured to puncture a tissue wall when the tissue fastener protrudes from the flexible tube. 
 
     
     
       11. The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of arms are fixedly connected to the distal end of the pusher, and each arm of the pair of arms includes a bent hook at a distal end of each arm. 
     
     
       12. The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of arms are biased apart from each other external the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       13. The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of arms are contracted towards each other within the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       14. The delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of arms grasp the tissue fastener when the pair of arms are contracted towards each other. 
     
     
       15. A delivery system configured for deployment of an expandable tissue fastener, comprising:
 a tissue fastener having a proximal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, a distal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, and an elongate connecting member connecting the proximal member to the distal member; 
 a flexible tube having a lumen configured to accommodate the tissue fastener in a contracted state; 
 a pusher for guiding the tissue fastener along the lumen of the tube; 
 a coupling system coupled to a distal end of the pusher and configured to grasp the tissue fastener, wherein the coupling system includes a pair of arms biased apart from each other, and 
 wherein the tissue fastener is fixedly connected to the pusher within the lumen of the flexible tube and is disconnected from any structure within the flexible tube when a portion of the coupling system exits the lumen of the flexible tube, wherein the exiting of the portion of the coupling system from the lumen causes the disconnection; 
 wherein a sharp distal end of the distal member is configured to puncture a tissue wall when the distal member protrudes from the flexible tube. 
 
     
     
       16. The delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of arms are contracted towards each other within the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       17. The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of arms grasp the tissue fastener when the pair of arms are contracted towards each other. 
     
     
       18. The delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of arms are biased apart from each other when the arms exit the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       19. The delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of arms release the tissue fastener when the pair of arms are biased apart from each other. 
     
     
       20. A delivery system configured for deployment of an expandable tissue fastener, comprising:
 a tissue fastener having a proximal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, a distal member configured to expand from a delivered state to a deployed state, and an elongate connecting member connecting the proximal member to the distal member; 
 a flexible tube having a lumen configured to accommodate the tissue fastener in a contracted state; 
 a pusher for guiding the tissue fastener along the lumen of the tube; and a coupling system coupled to a distal end of the pusher and configured to grasp the tissue fastener, wherein the coupling system includes a pair of arms, and wherein each of the pair or arms includes a bent hook at a distal end of each arm, 
 wherein the coupling system is biased to an open configuration to release the tissue fastener upon deployment of the tissue fastener, and wherein the tissue fastener is disconnected from any structure within the flexible tube upon deployment; 
 wherein a sharp distal end of the distal member is configured to puncture a tissue wall when the distal member protrudes from the flexible tube. 
 
     
     
       21. The delivery system of  claim 20 , wherein the tissue fastener is fixedly connected to the pusher within the lumen of the flexible tube and is disconnected from the pusher when a portion of the coupling system exits the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       22. The delivery system of  claim 21 , wherein the pair of arms are contracted towards each other within the lumen of the flexible tube. 
     
     
       23. The delivery system of  claim 22 , wherein the pair of arms are biased apart from each other when the arms are deployed from the lumen of the flexible tube.